Evan Gershkovich: Waiting for her brother, Putin's 'bargaining chip' in Russian jail - BBC News

It has been one year since US journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia and accused of spying.

2 days agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, National Press ClubImage caption, Danielle Gershkovich's brother Evan has been detained in a Russian prison for a yearBy Steve RosenbergRussia EditorOne year ago Danielle Gershkovich got a call from her mother. She could hardly believe the news.

Her younger brother, Evan, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal, had just been arrested: he was the first US journalist in Russia since the Cold War to be charged with espionage. The maximum possible punishment: 20 years in prison.

"It's been a really difficult year," Danielle tells me by video call from Washington. "The uncertainty is very hard to deal with."

Writing letters helps. The jailed American journalist has been sending plenty from prison.

"The best way to support one another is to keep things light," Danielle says. "We have a lot of sibling banter back and forth, a lot of teasing with love.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68679483

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